by T.W. Budig
ECM capitol reporter

The purring 2007 legislative session at the end lifted its head and roared.

As the seconds ebbed away to midnight adjournment on Monday (May 21), a procedural frenzy errupted on the House floor as Democratic leaders - who later accused some Republicans of gumming up the process to force a special session - three times forced votes.

"We had to utilize the tools in the toolbox available to us," said House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, DFL-Minneapolis, speaking after adjournment.

"Some members of the minority were trying to drive us into special session," said House Majority Leader Tony Sertich, DFL-Chisholm.

Constitutionally the lawmakers had to finish thier business by midnight.

Republicans, including former House Speaker Steve Sviggum, castigated Democrats for squashing debate through the rarely used procedural maneuver.

But one local DFLer saw no alternative.

The People's work

"We needed to get The People's work done," concluded Rep. Rick Hansen, DFL-South St. Paul, after adjournment. "I wish we had a little more success," he said.

One focus of the procedural fire fight on the floor was the long anticipated attempt to overturn Gov. Tim Pawlenty's veto of the transportation finance bill.

Pawlenty immediately vetoed the bill, which included a gas tax increase, local option sales tax and other revenue raisers, after the lawamkers passed it earlier in May.

Indeed, lawmakers passed a "lights on" transportation bill on Monday to replace the fallen finance bill.

Kelliher said earlier Monday evening the House would attempt an override.

Not all Democrats looked forward to this.

Rep. Ken Tschumper, DFL-LaCrescent, said before the vote he wished leaders wouldn't attempt it unless convinced it would succed.

At about 11:30 p.m., DFL leaders tabled the omnibus tax bill, which was being debated, and quickly brought up the override.

Waiting a long time

"We have been waiting for this vote for a long time," said House Minority Leader Marty Seifert, R-Marshall, urging members to look outside the "ivory tower" of the Capitol and think of constituents.

Forced onto the vote board by a procedural maneuver and as spectators lined the House gallery and back wall, House members voted on the override that needed 90 votes to succeed.

At first count, the vote was 86-47, but as seconds passed three House members, including transportation funding advocate Rep. Ron Erhardt, R-Edina, switched from